“That was rude Jode, you could have said goodbye,” Oaky says.

“Well I hate goodbyes. If I never say goodbye maybe it will allow me to come back,” I say.

“That makes no sense,” Falls says, “Goodbye does not prevent you from coming back.”

“Yeah I know,” I say and head for the castle.

I take my time and look around. There are still the little critters running around. But I notice there is nothing flying around. I don't know if they didn't come with us or they are just perched somewhere.

My mind wanders to the idea of the summoned constructs. Why of all things is that limited. I know Sesney can be summoned and stay, why not the constructs. Could it be that they choose to leave. Or is it more when they feel they are not needed they leave.

I wish I knew why or at least when the seven year construct left. Or even what it was. That may be a clue too. Sesney chose to stay, could a construct? Maybe if I think of a good form for it that will give it an incentive to stay. Something to think on.

I find myself in the castle with others following. After they all get in I ask Silver, “If you had a choice of anything to be what would it be?”

Silver looks at me strangely, “I don't know, I only know of knomes, rock-men, and that cat person. I guess if I had a choice I would want something very versatile. A knome body is okay but it lacks flight. It would also want a form that easily casts magic. I am still thinking of that, why?”

“Just curious,” I say.

“Great hall,” I say and walk through the wall.

I walk over to the couch next to the movie screen where Drake and Star are sitting. As Silver gets in I hear him say, “Fascinating.”

“Well we are stumped. All we know is that Balthazar wanted us to bring a construct with us. This is Silver,” I say and motion to him as he walks up. “The knomes created him, but Balthazar talked to him and freed him from the tomb.”

“Nice to meet you Silver,” Star says.

“This is Star and Drake,” I say.

“A pleasure to meet your acquaintance,” Silver says.

“I deduce that you have nothing that can help us.” Drake says.

“I'm afraid not. Balthazar just talked to me about the knomes and rock-men. He never mentioned a curse or even of this fantastic city,” Silver replies.

“You have any clue, Sesney?” I ask, sensing him in the room.

“Nope, I didn't go with you. I stayed here to help with the city,” Sesney replies.

“Who is this voice, may I inquire?” Silver asks.

“Oh sorry Sesney is a phase shifter. His body resides in another dimension,” I say.

“You mean another universe?” Silver asks.

“Actually no, I do reside in another dimension. I believe the humans call it the fifth,” Sesney says.

“Strange I recall Balthazar mentioning a dimensional person. I believe he said that he was a driver or something,” Silver says.

“Well I'm no driver. Do you know exactly what he said?” Sesney asks.

“Not exactly, but I can replay the scene,” Silver says.

“Please do,” I say.

Silvers voice changes to Balthazar's, “I know of a person who can jump through dimensions. I have known him since he was first summoned. That is similar to creating like the knomes did on you. The difference is that he was in another dimension and he was asked to come here.

I will have to say he is a very interesting race. They are what I like to call drivers. They have the ability to travel though all dimensions and planes and take objects enchanted to allow it. I would have to say he is my driver.

He does have trouble navigating some times so I created a device to help. I have an arbitrator that helps him too. That way if he forgets or doesn't know where to go the arbitrator directs him.”

“Um, well now Balthazar is just getting sneaky,” I say.

“What do you mean?” Silver asks.

“The arbitrator is a watcher that pretty much runs the city. Balthazar told you how we are to find our destinations without telling details about us. Damn I wish I was that good,” I say.

“Ingenious and precocious I would say,” Drake says.

“Why precocious?” I ask.

“What if he had never told us of the conversation?” Drake asks.

“But that I believe is the beauty of it. Eventually the conversation had to come up. Sesney is an integral part of all this and Silver had to meet him sooner or later,” I say.

“But one or the other could not be part of all this. Sesney could have left or Silver could have been left,” Drake says.

“Well Silver couldn't have been left. Balthazar asked him to come with us. So we had to bring him. And we wouldn't have gotten this far without Sesney,” I say.

“Convincing argument,” Drake returns.

“I'll go to the arbitrator and see what I can find out,” Sesney says.

“Drake do you know why summoned constructs only last for a short time?” I ask.

“No, why do you ask?” he answers.

“I just find it odd that other summons stay, but they don't,” I respond.

“No one knows why they don't stay. Maybe because they are not intelligent,” he returns.

“But they are,” I say. I notice that Star smiles.

“What gives you that notion?” Drake asks.

“Because the first one I summoned was talking to me. What are you not telling us Star?” I ask.

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“I have not refused you information, Jode,” She responds.

“But you know something about summoned constructs spells,” I say.

“What do you want to know?” Star asks calmly.

“That's a sneaky way of not giving information. You've been taking lessons from Balthore,” I say.

“I will admit I have learned a lot from Balthazar, but the technique of non revealment is not one of them,” she returns with a smile.

“Then it is part of this connection you have with watchers then,” I say.

“Very observant Jode. Some information I can only reveal by direct questions. I am not trying to deceive. It is a part of who I am now,” she returns.

“Did you know of this situation with Sesney and the arbitrator?” I ask.

“No, there is a lot that Balthazar has done, I have no knowledge of. The majority of the knowledge I have is known by some or all. It is just a matter of accessing it. Please continue with your discussion on constructs. I look forward to your conclusion.”

“You do know you're almost as bad as Balthazar,” I say.

“I take that as a compliment. Thank you Jode,” She returns with a smile.

“I guess it could, but anyway. I was thinking. What if the reason they don't stay is because they either don't like the form you give them or they don't like the way they are treated, or both,” I say.

“It would make sense,” Silver says. “I know when the knomes made me they treated me like dumb property. I found no desire to be more with them. But Balthazar treated me as an equal, so I decided to learn more to understand him.”

“If you could have left before Balthazar met you would you have?” I ask.

“I never thought about it, but yes I think I would have,” he says.

“When I was talking with my summoned construct he said they came because they are curious. If I could think of a form that is versatile and more interactive perhaps one would stay,” I say.

“Why would you need to?” Drake asks.

“For the same reason you are all here, to have friends and learn,” I say.

“Interesting Jode. Balthazar would have never thought of it that way. I am beginning to see why knowledge may be a hindrance at times,” Star says.

“Why would knowledge be a hindrance?” I ask.

“Because to know something is not always to understand it,” She says.

“Great more cryptic messages. Just what we need,” I say flustered.

Drake looks at me confused. Star smiles and the rest laugh. “What did I miss?” Sesney asks.

“Jode,” Oaky says.

“Oh got ya,” Sesney replies.

“Gee thanks,” I say.

“Any time,” Sesney responds, “I think I know what to do. Took a bit of fire questioning of the arbitrator, but I can port the city anywhere I can go except my home dimension. Any universe and any place is possible,” he says.

“But where is the next puzzle?” Drake asks.

“That I am unsure of. There is nothing in the records that will help,” he says.

“I bet there is,” I say.

“No, I checked,” Sesney says.

“But did you have it check the dimensions that were affected by human magic?”

“No... But... Oh, Got ya, be right back,” Sesney says.

“How many other cities like this one are there?” Silver asks.

“Just the one,” I reply, “Thousands of years ago there were quite a few, but the curse destroyed them all.”

“How sad, what is this curse you keep mentioning?”

“It was a curse cast by five humans and five dragons. It was just supposed to reduce the magic to prevent dimensional magic, but it went wrong. One person didn't cast it right, so it removed all magic from humans. And in the process almost wiped us out.” I say.

“Why would anyone want to cast a curse anyway? They all backfire,” Silver says.

“I guess it was the only way Balthazart could think of to stop humans from using dimensional magic. Human’s use of it is why your world has no organic life.”

“How can magic do that?” Silver asks.

“I don't know, any ideas drake?” I ask.

“I never knew that it could do that. Dragons didn't use dimensional magic if we could find another means,” Drake replies.

“Could it be that you knew that it wasn't right? Balthazar says your race is more for balance,” I say.

“I never thought about it. I just knew it didn't feel right.”

“Perhaps you should go by feelings more. It seems to know what is right,” I say.

“Dragons are not an emotional race. We like the definitive not possibilities,” he says defiantly.

“But the feeling of it being wrong is not an emotion per say. It could be your connection to the bigger picture that is hinting to you that something is out of balance,” I say.

“I have never taken the feelings seriously. I thought of them as childhood leftovers,” he says.

“Can I ask you how old you are?”

“I am over eleven thousand years old. What does that have to do with the conversation?

“Have the feelings stopped?”

“No,” he states.

“Then how can it be a childhood left over?”

Drake sits in thought for a moment then says, “I can see your point. It was feeling similar to our discussion that had me holding off the sandman. I have learned much since then. I will take your idea and see what it may reveal.”

“It's just a stab in the dark. But hey I'm right once in a blue moon.” I say.

“Well,” Sesney says and all but the dragons jump, “I have found three other dimensions directly affected, Sorry.”

“We're awake now,” I say then add, “Anyone more affected than others?”

“This dimension or universe was the most affected. The other three are not as severely affected. The other three also show ancient magic was used in them. In fact two of them have a strong area of ancient magic,” Sesney says.

“Any suggestions?” I ask.

Everyone shrugs except Drake and Star who shake their heads.

“It will probably be a mistake but let's go with the one that doesn't have a major magic signature. Get possibly the hard one out of the way,” I say.

“Why do you think it will be hard?” Oaky asks.

“Because it doesn't have an obvious place to go,” I say.

“Well to the odd one out we go,” Sesney says.

I wait to see something happen, but all I get is Sesney saying, “Were here.”

“You know he could have made some sign when we move a whole city.” I say.

“Why should he do that?” Drake asks.

“I don't know, just because,” I say and head out.

I get outside and see a blue sky. I glance around to see if anything is flying. I just see blue skies and a few clouds. One cloud bumps into the side of the castle. It dawns on me that we should be cold and out of breath. I figure the city is creating a protection around us.

“Wait it is sunny,” I say.

“Yes what is wrong with that?” Rock asks.

“Because when we left the other world it was dark,” I say.

“He is right,” Oaky says. “The other world had the same time as our world.”

“Plus I should be tired, but I ain't. Why's that?” I ask.

Silver walks over to me and waves his hand over me, “Your readings says you just woke up from sleep.”

“How can you tell that?” I ask.

“The readings I get are on scans I did on Balthazar in various stages. This one is similar to one I did after he just woke up. The brain of a human shows signs when it is fatigued, but yours does not.”

“Could it be adrenalin?” I ask.

“There is no sign of excess adrenaline in your system.”

“How you feel Rock?” I ask.

“Refreshed, I felt fatigue and strain starting to set in when we got back to the city, but I don't feel it now.”

“I wonder if the porting does that?” I ask.

I walk over to the left then stop, “Wait I almost forgot to link,” I say and link myself to the closest bush. I repeat the process on all the others. “Should I send a construct to look around?” I ask.

“I can do that,” Rock says.

“It would be safer with a construct,” Falls says.

“But not as fun,” Rock says.

“But she has a point. We don't know what or who is in this world. I would hate for you to get attacked,” I say.

“All right,” Rock says, defeated.

I imagine a floating jellyfish, that can use natural camouflage at any angle. I envision its tentacles each having a unique sensor on them. I see one as being versatile enough to manipulate any object. And finally the ability to speak and use magic. “Summon aid,” I say.

I open my eyes to see a rainbow jellyfish floating in front of me. Its round top is slightly larger than a basketball. I see one tentacle in the center larger than the rest with a wider base. The rest of its multitude of tentacles are moving around like they are searching.